National Fuel Cell Research Center

National Fuel Cell Research Center

Type	Research Center
Established	1998
Director	Iryna Zenyuk
Academic staff	9
Undergraduates	10
Postgraduates	28
Location	Irvine , California , U.S. 33°38′37.6″N117°50′22.7″W / 33.643778°N 117.839639°W / 33.643778; -117.839639
Website	Official website

The National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC) is a research laboratory at the University of California, Irvine. It was established in 1998 by the U.S. Department of Energy and the California Energy Commission. ^[1] Over 50 researchers are affiliated with the center as research scientists, faculty, or graduate students. ^[2] Since 2022, the research center has been directed by Iryna Zenyuk.

History

The NFCRC was established on February 25, 1998 by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and California Energy Commission (CEC) with the goal of conducting scientific research aimed towards the development of zero emission sources of power generation and expanding consumer choice. ^[3] The center was tasked with accelerating fuel cell technology development and facilitating its implementation in the California energy market. ^[4]

The center received partnerships from the Southern California Edison company and Pacific Rim Consortium on Combustion, Energy, and the Environment (PARCON). It received a $300k grant from the CEC in 1998. ^[5]

Research

The center’s primary research concerns fuel cell technology, including electrochemistry and electrocatalysis for applications including hydrogen-powered vehicles, renewable hydrogen generation, stationary power, and energy storage. ^[6] Faculty and researchers at the NFCRC also focus on feasibility studies, market challenges, and integration of fuel cell systems with central power plants and large-scale energy infrastructure. ^[7]

The NFCRC received $3.75 million in research funding from the DOE in 2023 ^{[8] [9] [10]} and $1.8 million from the South Coast Air Quality Management District in 2018 to develop hydrogen fueling stations. ^[11] A portion of research is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). ^[12] The center employs over 40 undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines of engineering and the physical and biological sciences and collaborates on projects and instruction with the UC Irvine School of Medicine, Paul Merage School of Business, and social sciences departments.

The center is affiliated with DOE projects including Hydrogen from Next-Generation Electrolyzers of Water (H2NEW), Million Miles Fuel Cell Truck, and Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. ^[13]

The NFCRC acts as co-chair and co-administrator of the California Stationary Fuel Cell Collaborative. Its industry collaborators include Bosch, Chevron, Horiba, Toyota, Cabot, Plug Power, and others. ^{[14] [15]}

Location

The NFCRC is located in Irvine, California and uses the Engineering Laboratory Facility on the south end of Aldrich Park as its primary facility. The DOE selected the site in part because the City of Irvine is one of the largest planned communities in the country with a history of environmental stewardship dating to the 1960s. In addition, the area is home to the highest concentration of energy consulting firms in the United States.

See also

• Center for Energy Research
• California Energy Commission

References

1. X; Bluesky (2022-09-10). "Researchers want to mix renewable fuels into existing gas lines at UC Irvine". Daily Pilot. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
2. "National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC), UC Irvine". www.nfcrc.uci.edu. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
3. Anonymous (2025-04-17). "UCI's Hydrogen Blending Pilot: Safety, Feasibility and Controversy - Fuelcellsworks". fuelcellsworks.com. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
4. Samuelsen, Scott (November 28, 2017). "National Fuel Cell Research Center Responses to the California Customer Choice Project Post-Workshop Questions" (PDF). California Public Utilities Commission. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
5. "National Fuel Cell Research at UC Irvine's Award from CEC - News". eepower.com. EE Power. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
6. Penn, Ivan; Krauss, Clifford (November 11, 2020). "California Is Trying to Jump-Start the Hydrogen Economy". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
7. "Plan to test hydrogen energy at UC Irvine, other spots, stirs controversy". Orange County Register. 2022-12-18. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
8. "DOE Awards $34 Million to Advance Clean Hydrogen". Energy.gov. U.S. Department of Energy. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
9. Thomas, Jack (21 September 2023). "US invests $48m in clean hydrogen technologies". Innovation News Network. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
10. "DOE Grants $3.75 Million to Engineering Research for Advancing Hydrogen-Based Clean Energy Technologies - Fuelcellsworks". fuelcellsworks.com. Fuel Cell Works. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
11. Nastri, Wayne. "Execute Contract for Expansion of Hydrogen Fueling Station" (PDF). South Coast Air Quality Management District. AQMD. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
12. Archives, L. A. Times (17 October 1987). "Irvine : UC Irvine Gets $300,000 Grant for Cell Research". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
13. "National Fuel Cell Research Center". UCI Office of Research. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
14. "National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC), UC Irvine". www.nfcrc.uci.edu. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
15. Shybut, Mikel (2024-11-21). "Gallery: CCST Hosts Experts in Sacramento to Discuss California's Hydrogen Research and Innovation Agenda". California Council on Science & Technology (CCST). Retrieved 2025-11-04.